Valve tool for charging and discharging refrigeration systems



Feb. 2, 1960 w. WAGNER VALVE TOOL FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Filed Oct. 16. 1953 IN V EN TOR. WILLIAM WAGNER United States Patent VALVE TOOL FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARG- ING REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS William Wagner, Brooklyn, N.Y. Application October 16, 1953, Serial No. 386,567

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-320) This invention relates to a valve tool for charging and discharging refrigeration systems.

Although the valve tool herein claimed is intended primarily for use in charging and discharging refrigeration systems, it will be understood that it may be used for other purposes of like nature equally as well, as for example, testing gas pressures or other fluid pressures and also bleeding pipe lines and tanks and the like or filling the same. For purposes of convenience, however, the invention will be described solely in terms of its relation to refrigeration systems.

It is necessary, on occasion, to discharge all or some of the contents of refrigeration systems. Sometimes it is necessary to charge them or recharge them or to add to their charge. It is essential-that all of these operations be performed under complete control without danger of any entry of or contamination by foreign matter, such as air or dust or moisture. The present tool constitutes a connection between the refrigeration system on the one hand and the charging or discharging mechanism or means on the other hand. It also constitutes a locking and unlocking mechanism whereby the refrigeration systern may be opened for charging or discharging purposes and then closed. More specifically, the tool herein claimed comprises a fitting which may be secured at one end to a complementary fitting in the refrigeration system and which may be secured at its opposite end to another complementary fitting in the charging or discharging means. This fitting encases a valve key or the like. When the fitting is secured to the refrigeration system on the one hand and to the charging or discharging apparatus on the other hand, it is possible, al- 45 though the valve key is not accessible from the outside, to turn or actuate said key so as to open or close the refrigeration system and more particularly a charge or discharge valve in said system which said valve key is adapted to engage and actuate.

An important feature of this invention is the construction of the valve key. This key is encased in the fitting herein claimed. In valve keys or tools of the prior art, the refrigerant flows between the key proper and the 55 fitting itself so that actually the fitting is the conduit and the key is simply a key. There are many practical disadvantages in this construction. In the present invention on the other hand, the key is a tubular or hollow member through which the refrigerant is caused or enabled to flow. It is the hollow key which constitutes the conduit for said refrigerant and not the fitting. The fitting is simply a holder or housing for the key and it serves as a means of securing the key to the valve of the refrigeration system. In no sense does the fitting of 6 the present invention constitute a conduit.

An important feature of the present invention is the nature of the key. The key is so shaped that it possesses the features and performs the functions of two separate keys, one having a screw driver bit or blade and the other a hexagonal tip. The forwardmost portion of the present key is flat and it serves as a screw driver bit or control member or with a control member having a hexagonal socket, the key may be turned in one direction by the means herein provided to open the valve and in the opposite direction to close it.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to a key shaped in the manner last above described.

Any conventional shape of valve control key may bea handle for manually turning the key to actuate vthe valve control mechanism. This cross member, like the key itself, may be hollow and it would then serve as a conduit for the refrigerant. But it need not be hollow and in such case it would function solely and exclusively as a handle to provide the necessary leverage to actuate the key.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly broken away and in longitudinal section, of valve tool made in accordance with one form of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. I.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a valve tool madein accordance with a second form of this invention.

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly broken away and in section of a valve tool made in accordance with a third form of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of this invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 and to the first form of this invention it will be seen that a fitting 10 is provided of generally cylindrical shape and said fitting may have knurled portion 12 formed thereon peripherally thereof. The fitting 10 is knurled to provide an adequate finger gripping surface. The forward end 14 of fitting 10 is reduced in size and it is provided with external screw threads 16. Between said reduced portion 14 and the main body of said fitting is an annular shoulder 18 against which a washer 20 abuts. The washer is, of course, mounted on said reduced threaded end portion 14. This reduced threaded end portion 14 may be screwed into a suitable internally threaded fitting or receptacle in the refrigeration system. Washer 20 will serve as a seal between fitting 10 and the fitting or receptacle to which it is thus secured. The knurled portion 12 will assist in turning fitting 10 into tight engagement with said internally threaded fitting or receptacle in the refrigeration system.

Fitting 10 is of tubular shape and a centrally extending hole 22 is formed therein and in its reduced forward end 14. It is through hole 22 that key 24 extends. It will be observed that hole22 is enlarged in an intermediate section 26 and that it is once again enlarged in its back end section 28. Enlarged hole section 28 is provided with internal screw threads 30 to receive externally threaded reduced portion 32 of collar 34. A

knurled surface 36 is provided on collar 34, peripherally Patented Feb. 2, 1960.

thereof, so that-said collar may be turned by hand relative to fitting 10.

A cylindrical washer 38 is mounted in. the intermediate portion 26 of hole22. This cylindrical washer encircles,

key 24 and it abuts an annular shoulder 40'between hole 22; and its said intermediate portion 26.. A ring 42 abuts the opposite end of cylindrical washer 38' and it will be noted that the forwardmost end 44 of reduced portion 32 of collar 34 projects into the intermediate section 26 and into engagement with ring 42. Collar 34- may be turned in and relative to fitting in order to squeeze cylindrical gasket 38. It will be appreciated that squeezing or compressing said gasket in longitudinal direction will cause it to swell or expand transversely of itself both radially inwardly and against the key and also radially outwardlyv and against the inner wall of fitting 10. This will produce a tight seal between the fitting on the one hand and the key on the other hand.

It will be understood from the foregoing that knurled fitting 10 may be turned manually to attach or detach said fitting with respect to the refrigeration system which is to be charged or discharged. Knurled collar 34 may be turned manually to provide a tight seal between said fitting and the key which is mounted therein. The tool is. now ready for use and its operation will shortly be described.

Key 24 is a tubular member having a longitudinally extending hole 50 formed therein. It is through this hole that the refrigerant passes or flows either into or out of the refrigeration system. It will be noted that hole 50 extends the full length of key 24 with the sole exception of its forwardmost portion which is solid. This forwardmost portion of key 24is shaped to provide a hexagonal portion 52 and a blade bit or portion 54. This blade portion 54 is adapted to engage a slotted valve control member used in some refrigeration systems. Hexagonal portion 52 is adapted to engage a hexagonal socket formed in the valve control member of other refrigeration systems. Hole 50 is a dead end hole at its forward end, save for a radially extending portion or port 56 which communicates with said hole 50. It is through this radial port 56 that the refrigerant is enabled to flow into and out of hole 50, depending upon the direction of flow of said refrigerant. It will be observed that radial port 56 is. formed in a collar shaped portion 58 of key 24 which is situated immediately forwardly of a reduced neck portion 60. Behind said reduced neck portion 60 is the main body of key 24. Mounted on reduced neck portion 60 in concentric relation thereto is a split resilient ring 62. This is a retaining ring which abuts the forward end'of reduced portion 14 of fitting 10. It prevents accidental dislodgment of key 24 from fitting 10 under the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system.

At the back end of key 24 is an enlarged externally threaded portion 64 which may be inserted into screw threaded engagement with a fitting on the charging or discharging apparatus. Immediately forward of threaded portion 64 is a further enlarged hexagonal portion 66 which serves as the means of connecting a suitable wrench or the like to key 24. When hexagonal portion 66 is engaged by a wrench or other suitable tool it may be turned in one direction to cause key 24 to open the refrigeration system valve which it engages and said hexagonal portion 66 may be turned in the opposite direction by means of said wrench in order to close said refrigeration system valve.

Itwill be observed that the refrigerant is free to flow only through port 56 and hole 50 of key 24. The refrigerant does not flow through fitting 10 or through collar 34 except to the extent that hole 50 is formed in key 24 which extends through said fitting and said collar.

Turning now to Fig. 3 it will be understood that valve tool 70 is or may be identical in every respect with the valve tool shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the sole exception the back end of its key'72 is provided with arhandleasserts a l 4.. shaped member 74 which the key in Figs. 1 and 2 does not possess. A plug 76' stops up the back end of hole 78 formed in key 72. Secured to one side of the back of key 72 is a laterally extending tubular member 80 and radially projecting from the opposite side of said key is a similar tubular member 82. The two tubular members 80 and 82 are axially aligned and together they constitute handle 74 above mentioned. It will be observed that a longitudinally extending hole 84 is formed in tubular member 80 for communication with hole 78 in key 72. Similarly, a longitudinally extending hole 86 is formed in tubular member 82 for communication with hole 78. in said key 72. The outer ends of thetwo tubular members 80 and 82 are reduced and provided with external screws threads 88. These reduced screwthreaded end portions correspond to screw-threaded por tion 64 of the first form of this invention and it is by this means-that either or both of said tubular members 80 and 82 may be connected to suitable fittings in a re frigerant charging or discharging mechanism.

Handle 74 may be used to actuate key 72 manually so as to avoid the necessity of employing a wrench or the like. In normal use, a cap 90 would be'secured either to the threaded end 88 of tubular member 80 or the corresponding end of tubular member 82. This wouldclose off the tubular member to which the cap is secured to prevent the escape of the refrigerant therethrough. The other end would be secured to the refrigeration charge or discharge apparatus. It will be appreciated that tubular members 80 and 82 perform another important function, in addition to serving as a handle, and such function relates to the ease with which a hose from the charge or discharge apparatus may be secured to either of said tubular members in contrast to the difiiculty of securing such hose to a valve tool of this general character having no tubular members 80 and 82 or tubular mem bers similar thereto. The charge and discharge valve of many refrigeration systems is located in a relatively inaccessible place. Tubular members 80 and 82 render it possible to secure the valve tool to such relatively inaccessible valve and said tubular members themselves, or

either of them, would then become accessible to the hose of the charge or discharge apparatus.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be observed that valve tool 92 is basically similar to valve tool 70 (save for handle 74) and to the valve tool which is shown in Fig. 1. There are, however, certain structural differences. For

example, key 94 has a reduced portion 96 milled into it immediately forward of its threaded end portion 98.

This milled portion 96 may be square in cross-section so.

that it may be engaged by a wrench or similar tool for turning the key in either direction. in; the construction of key 94 is found at its forward end where it is provided with a hexagonal portion 100 corresponding to hexagonal portion 52 shown in Fig. l but there is no flat blade portion at the end of hexagonal.

portion 100 corresponding to blade portion 54 shown in ig. l.

Fitting IGZalso differs from fitting 10 in the following manner. Fitting 1% is intended to engage a socketshaped fitting on the valve control mechanism of the refrigeration system. Fitting 162, on the other hand, is itself a socket-shaped member at its forward end and it is provided with internal screw threads 104 in place of the external screw threads 16 of reduced portion 14 of fitting 10. Fitting 102 is adapted to engage an externally screw-threaded fitting on the valve control mechanism of the refrigerator system. In all other major respects, the embodiment of this invention shownin Fig. 4 corresponds to that shown in Fig. 1. It will of course be understood that valve tool 92 may be fitted with a handle 74 if this should be desired.

Turning now to Fig. 5, it will be observed that tool 1'10 comprises a cylindrical housing 112 having a cenp assage 114; formed therein, longitudinally thereof.

Another difierence Passage 114 has an enlarged end portion 116 which is situated at the forward end of cylindrical member 112. Internal screw threads 118 are formed in the enlarged portion 116 of passage 114. Internal screw threads 120 are formed in said passage 114 at the opposite end of said cylindrical member 112. It will be observed that thus far cylindrical member 112 corresponds, substantially, to cylindrical member 102 shown in Fig. 4.

A annular shoulder 122 is formed in cylindrical member 112 between passage 114 and enlarged passage 116. Seated on said shoulder 122 is a ring-shaped washer or gasket 124. A key 126, generally similar to key 94, extends through passage 114 and into enlarged passage 1 16. A pin 128 is fixed in the side of key 126 in radial relation thereto. Between pin 128 and washer 124 is a retaining ring 130 which is provided with an internal notch 132 somewhat larger in its inside dimensions than the outside dimensions of pin 128. It is therefore possible to move key 126 longitudinally of cylindrical fitting 112 in either direction. The key may move forwardly (upwardly as viewed in Fig. 5) irrespective of the position of its pin 128 relative to notch 132. When it is desired to remove the key from the cylindrical fitting by withdrawing it rearwardly from said fitting (downwardly as viewed in Fig. 5) it is necessary to register said pin 123 with notch 132. When the pin is not in registration with said notch, the pin will engage retaining ring 130 to prevent the key from being withdrawn from the cylindrical fitting. It is apparent that pin 128 performs the same function as retaining ring 62 shown in Fig. 1.

The foregoing is illustrative of a preferred form of this invention and of modifications thereof and it will be understood that other modifications may be incorporated therein and other forms of the invention may be provided within the broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A valve tool for opening and closing a refrigeration system valve mounted within a screw-threaded receptacle, said valve tool comprising a hollow screw-threaded fitting, a hollow tool rotatably disposed within said hollow fitting, packing means between said hollow fitting and said hollow tool to prevent passage of a refrigerant between them, a valve engaging key on said hollow tool, and an opening in the wall of said hollow tool which is adapted to provide communication between the inside of said hollow tool and the exterior thereof to enable the hollow tool to serve as a conduit for a refrigerant, the ends of the hollow tool projecting beyond the ends of the hollow fitting, an enlargement being formed at one end of said tool for abutment with the corresponding end of the hollow fitting to prevent axial movement of said tool in one direction relative to said hollow fitting, an annular groove being formed at the opposite end of said tool between the key and the corresponding end of said hollow fitting and a retaining ring disposed in said annular groove and abutting said corresponding end of the hollow fitting to prevent axial movement of said tool in the opposite direction relative to said hollow fitting.

2. A valve tool for opening and closing a refrigeration system valve mounted within a screw-threaded receptacle, said valve tool comprising a hollow screw-threaded fitting, a hollow tool rotatably disposed within said hollow fitting, packing means between said hollow fitting and said hollow tool to prevent passage of a refrigerant between them, a valve engaging key on said hollow tool, and an opening in the wall of said hollow tool which is adapted to provide communication between the inside of said hollow tool and the exterior thereof to enable the hollow tool to serve as a conduit for a refrigerant, the ends of the hollow tool projecting beyond the ends of the hollow fitting, an enlargement being formed at one end of said tool for abutment with the corresponding end of the hollow fitting to prevent axial movement of said tool in one direction relative to said hollow fitting, an annular groove being formed at the opposite end of said tool between the key and the corresponding end of said hollow fitting and a retaining ring disposed in said annular groove and abutting said corresponding end of the hollow fitting to prevent axial movement of said tool in the opposite direction relative to said hollow fitting, wrench engaging means being provided on the hollow tool at the opposite end thereof from the end on which the key is provided and the annular groove is formed, whereby said hollow tool may be turned by wrench means relative to said hollow fitting in order to operate the valve.

3. A valve tool for opening and closing a refrigeration system valve mounted within a screw-threaded receptacle, said valve tool comprising a hollow screw-threaded fitting, a hollow tool rotatably disposed within said hollow fitting, packing means between said hollow fitting and said hollow tool to prevent passage of a refrigerant between them, a valve engaging key on said hollow tool, and an opening in the wall of said hollow tool which is adapted to provide communication between the inside of said hollow tool and the exterior thereof to enable the hollow tool to serve as a conduit for a refrigerant, the ends of the hollow tool project-ing beyond the ends of the hollow fitting, an enlargement being formed at one end of said tool for abutment with the corresponding end of the hollow fitting to prevent axial movement of said tool in one direction relative to said hollow fitting, an annular groove being formed at the opposite end of said tool between the key and the corresponding end of said hollow fitting and a retaining ring disposed in said annular groove and abutting said corresponding end of the hollow fitting to prevent axial movement of said tool in the opposite direction relative to said hollow fitting, a transversely extending hollow handle being provided on the opposite end of the hollow tool from the end on which the key is provided and the annular groove is formed, whereby said hollow tool may be). turned relative to the said hollow fitting in order to operate the valve, the inside of said hollow handle being in communication with the inside of the hollow tool to provide a conduit therewith for the refrigerant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 272,536 Dinneen Feb. 20, 1883 538,554 Siebert Apr. 3, 1895 1,181,910 McGilvray May 2, 1916 2,092,941 Trefney et al. Sept. 14, 1937 2,207,898 Schoencke July 16, 1940 2,331,001 Simon Oct. 5, 1943 2,525,928 McRae Oct. 17, 1950 2,614,400 May Oct. 21, 1952 2,644,548 Schiemann July 7, 1953 

